Alec Baldwin apologizes for anti-gay slur

By Lisa Respers France, CNN

Updated 9:31 PM ET, Fri November 15, 2013

Photos: Alec Baldwin's public battles8 photos

Alec Baldwin's public battles – Alec Baldwin is taken into custody by New York police after allegedly riding his bike the wrong way on Fifth Avenue on Tuesday, May 13. It's not the first time the "30 Rock" star has found his personal matters aired in public.

Alec Baldwin's public battles – Baldwin and his daughter model Ireland Baldwin appear to have a close relationship now. But in 2007, a voicemail was leaked of the actor yelling at the then-11-year-old and calling her a "rude, thoughtless little pig."

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Photos: Alec Baldwin's public battles8 photos

Alec Baldwin's public battles – In 2011, the actor was booted from an American Airlines flight for refusing to turn off his cell phone after the doors had closed. He complained via Twitter that it was all about his playing the online game Words with Friends.

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Photos: Alec Baldwin's public battles8 photos

Alec Baldwin's public battles – In April 2013, the actor had a dust-up related to Shia LeBeouf, who was reportedly fired from a Broadway production of "Orphans" after clashing with Baldwin. LaBeouf told late night host David Letterman that the two "had tension as men."

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Photos: Alec Baldwin's public battles8 photos

Alec Baldwin's public battles – In June 2013, Baldwin once again took to Twitter to slam a reporter who claimed that Baldwin's wife, Hilaria, was tweeting during the funeral of "The Sopranos" star James Gandolfini.

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Photos: Alec Baldwin's public battles8 photos

Alec Baldwin's public battles – In August 2013, both Baldwin and a photographer called the police to report an incident in New York. Apparently a standoff ensued after the photographer got too close for Baldwin's liking while he was with Hilaria. Baldwin has had several disputes with paparazzi.

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Not only did he give very emotional testimony against an accused stalker, but he also raised the ire of GLAAD after using an anti-gay slur he didn't realize was one.

According to TMZ, the "30 Rock" star chased after a photographer outside his Manhattan apartment on Thursday and called the man a "c**ksucking f*g."

"Get away from my wife and the baby with the camera," Baldwin can be heard yelling on video taken of the incident. "What f***ing language you want that in?"

On Friday Baldwin posted a statement on MSNBC's website saying, "I did not intend to hurt or offend anyone with my choice of words, but clearly I have -- and for that I am deeply sorry. Words are important. I understand that, and will choose mine with great care going forward."

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The statement came after MSNBC announced a two-week suspension for Baldwin's Friday evening show "Up Late With Alec Baldwin."

"I understand 'Up Late' will be taken off the schedule for tonight and next week. I want to apologize to my loyal fans and to my colleagues at MSNBC -- both for my actions and for distracting from their good work. Again, please accept my apology," wrote Baldwin.

Following reportsof the incident, the activist organization GLAAD expressed its disappointment on Twitter.

"Mr. Baldwin can't lend his support for equality on paper, while degrading gay people in practice," GLADD tweeted.

The organization later added via Twitter, "It's clearly time Mr. Baldwin listens to the calls from so many LGBT people and allies to end this pattern of anti-gay slurs."

"Anti-gay slurs are wrong," he said. "They not only offend, but threaten hard fought tolerance of LGBT rights. I'm grateful to all of the ppl I meet + hear from who recognize that I would never say something to offend my friends in the gay community."

He also said "1-Rich Ferraro from @glaad informs me that c'sucker is an anti-gay epithet. In which case I apologize and will retire it from my vocabulary."

On Friday TMZ featured video of Baldwin asking his male hairdresser if he thought he was a homophobe, to which the stylist jokingly responded, "Yes. Big time."

This is not the first time Baldwin has had a run-in with paparazzi. In August, Baldwin was photographed holding a paparazzi's arms behind his back and pinning him over the hood of a parked car. Both Baldwin and the photographer called 911 but no charges were filed.